Chapter 1Every morning, same question: "Can you give me a ride?"
His answer? Always no. "Looks bad at work."
Then today happens. Phoenix is pouring rain—super rare—and I'm waiting to cross when splash—a car soaks me completely.
That driver? My boyfriend. Girl in his front seat? Madison, the new girl from my office.
Phoenix only gets like 20 rainy days a year. He never drove me. Not once.
But Madison? Every single day. A whole year.
Some lady passes me a tissue: "Phoenix weather's crazy, huh? You'll get used to it."
I smile. "Actually, I won't."
I already quit. Next Friday, I'm leaving—going somewhere I don't have to think about rain anymore.
Finally.
Clocked in right on time, dripping everywhere. No chance to change—just grabbed my laptop and ran to the conference room.
Derek looked up. Our eyes met for half a second. He turned away first.
Everyone kept asking if I was okay. I picked the seat farthest from him.
My phone lit up.
[why not just uber]
I'd shown him the app this morning—100+ people waiting.
He'd sent back "lmaooo"
Watched him laughing with Madison across the table. Left him on read.
During break, everyone started complaining about the storm:
"Bro I literally swam here."
"Derek you're so lucky. Having your own car must be nice."
"Forget the car—I want what Madison's got. Someone driving me everywhere? Goals."
The coffee tasted extra bitter.
I'd moved here thinking Phoenix was our fresh start. Reality hit different.
We had a plan—save up, get our own place, build something together.
Then Derek bought that car. Spent everything. Every dollar we saved for our future? Gone.
Know how many times he's driven me? I can count on one hand.
Because Madison needed her "big bro."
Meeting ended. The AC was freezing. I sneezed.
Derek's voice behind me: "Probably should get some medicine or something."
Madison bounced over, all smiles. "Oh wait! I've still got those pills Derek bought me last time. You want them?"
"I'm good. Already ordered delivery."
Heard "take care of yourself" way too many times. Learned to just handle it.
Lunch came around. Derek and Madison headed to the cafeteria, asked if I wanted to come. I said no.
My replacement starts Monday. Every minute counts.
Phone buzzed again.
[ok what's wrong]
[dude she lives like forever away and it was dumping rain. didn't want her stranded. it's just a ride]
Not just a ride. Every ride. Three hundred sixty-five days.
He sent some emoji—same ones Madison always uses.
[come on babe seriously]
[she's basically my little sister. only moved here because of me. doesn't know anyone else. just trying to help]
Funny how he forgot—I moved here for him too. Left everything behind.
[yeah makes sense]
Typing bubble sat there a while. Then: [good]
Heels clicked closer.
Madison sat down next to me.
I glanced at my beat-up Crocs. Edges all dirty. The strap rubbed my ankle raw, and the rain made it look worse.
Something flashed.
Madison was fixing her lipstick.
I recognized that tube. Saw it in Derek's cart last week.
She noticed me looking and waved it. "Derek got me this for my hundred-day work anniversary. Can you believe it's been that long?"
Last week was our five-year anniversary. He said he forgot.
That afternoon the VP walked past during the weekly meeting. Stopped at me.
"Sales needs to look the part, people."
He glanced at Madison. "Madison knows what's up. Some of you been here how long and still..."
Madison ducked her head. Pretty sure she smiled.
Derek looked over. Said nothing.
After the meeting my manager asked me to stay.
Door shut. She patted my shoulder.
"Read your handoff notes. Everything looks good."
She went quiet for a second.
"You took a pay cut to follow him here. Turned down leading your own team. Still think you deserved better."
I smiled.
She went to our same college. Only person on the team who knew about Derek and me.
"So what finally made you decide to leave?"
Nothing dramatic.
Used to want to be close to him.
Now I just want distance. The more, the better.
Chapter 2
End of the day, ran into Derek in the elevator.
I walked in, hit the button, stood in the corner and left some space between us.
"You're not riding with me?"
Just us two. He spoke first.
The elevator dinged open.
Madison practically shoved between us and smacked Derek's arm. "Ugh, you went down without me again! I literally told you to wait!"
Derek rubbed his arm, grinning. "Alright, alright, princess."
Madison's eyes finally landed on me. "Oh hey! Wanna come with us?"
Sounded like she was doing me a favor.
Ground floor.
"I'm good."
I stepped out but Derek caught my wrist.
"Hey. Need to tell you something later. Try to get home early, yeah?"
So casual, like it was nothing.
Home means five subway stops, one transfer, then an hour on the bus. Rain? Forget it. Security line goes all the way outside.
"I'll try. Got some stuff to do."
I pulled away and kept walking.
Passed our old bakery and stopped for a second. It still smelled the same.
We used to come here all the time, share a slice, made the day feel lighter. That was a long time ago now.
Our table by the window? Some other couple was sitting there.
I headed next door instead—realtor's office.
"Okay Ms. Rivers, you're all set! Just be out by Saturday."
"Thanks."
"Girl, honestly? If you hadn't made that place look so good, no way we'd have rented it this fast." She paused. "Wait, you're seriously leaving all the furniture?"
"Yeah."
That couch I found with the good back support, the blackout curtains, the desk at just the right height. I hit up like ten thrift stores for Derek and spent way more than I should've.
Doesn't matter anymore though.
I got home late, flipped the lights. Empty.
[thought you wanted to talk?]
It took him forever.
[oh mads really wanted to try this spot and it was close by so]
I checked the address. An hour away.
The place I'd reserved for our anniversary? Twenty minutes. "Too far," he'd said. We ate at home.
My phone rang. Mom.
"So? Have you two picked a date yet or what? All the good places are gonna be booked!"
We haven't. He forgot our anniversary, forgot what we promised too.
I went quiet too long.
"He's bailing, isn't he? See? I told you he was gonna do this!"
"I said don't move all the way out there for him but nooo—'he's so good to me Mom'—yeah? Then why'd you end up in the ER alone?!"
The day my stomach gave out, I couldn't even move. I called Derek like fifteen times. Nothing. Mom called the ambulance.
The doctor said any later and I might not have made it.
I got out of surgery and broke up with him.
He freaked. Took off work, stayed with me the whole time.
I woke up one night—he was passed out next to me, eyes still red. It felt like before.
When his phone was always on, when I was the only one on his bike. My roommates used to complain about their boyfriends. I never had to.
Mom's marriage messed me up and made me push people away.
Derek didn't care. He just kept trying, pulled me out of it, made me think he was different.
Turns out he's not.
After surgery I asked him: "Why didn't you pick up?"
"Code broke. Was rushing. Didn't see it..."
That same day? Madison was moving. Her story had his hand in it and she called him her "knight."
I knew he was lying but didn't say anything. Not 'cause I cared. I just needed time.
Finally here.
"No Mom. I'm the one who doesn't want to."
"I'm done."
The key turned in the lock.
Derek walked in.
"Done with what?"
Chapter 3
"Nothing."
I hung up. Derek was still standing outside.
He had Madison's suitcase, stepped aside to let her in first.
"Oh hey Jenna!" Madison went straight for the shoe cabinet like she lived here.
Those slippers with the little cartoon characters—she'd posted about them last week:
[new slippers! someone's got excellent taste~]
Guess "someone" meant my apartment.
"It's almost midnight. What's with the suitcase?"
Derek shut the door and rolled it inside.
"So here's the thing—"
Madison yanked open the fridge. "DEREK! You said you wouldn't drink my chocolate milk! I can't believe you!"
I stared at the carton in Madison's hand, then at Derek.
"You bought that for her?"
Derek looked down. First time I'd ever seen him squirm.
I closed the shoe cabinet. "I drank it."
Madison's face relaxed. "Ohh okay! I mean you're always doing this, saying you don't want any then finishing all my snacks."
She turned to me. "Totally fine Jenna! Just text me next time you want some!"
Apparently I needed her permission for what's in my fridge.
I looked at Derek. "How often does she come here?"
"Not much. Few times. Picked up some stuff for her last week."
Right. Those "few times" happened to be when I was out of town.
"Why tonight though?"
Derek's jaw tightened. "Don't start."
"Start what?"
He exhaled like I was exhausting him.
Madison jumped in. "Sorry for barging in like this Jenna."
"We've got a super early flight tomorrow and Derek thought leaving from here would save time."
Convenient for her. Complicated for me.
"What flight?"
Derek stopped moving. "Told you last week. Was gonna mention it tonight."
"Your place is way closer to the airport. She'll actually get some sleep."
I laughed.
That's what he wanted to talk about.
"No. Book a hotel."
Derek shot up. "Are you SERIOUS right now?!"
Madison stood too, eyes going wide. "Jenna I have a boyfriend, I promise this isn't—"
"Derek I should probably just—"
He grabbed her arm. "Jenna what is WRONG with you?!"
"Had a bad day at work so now you're taking it out on her? She didn't do anything to you!"
"We have an extra bedroom. Why are you being like this?!"
No reason.
Just finally seeing clearly.
My best friend of ten years wanted to visit? His "thing about germs" meant she couldn't stay over.
Six months in? That disappeared real fast.
Knows Madison's dating someone but still wakes up at 2am when she texts that she can't sleep.
Only one reason for that.
I'm not who he cares about protecting.
I said it out loud.
Derek's face went stone cold.
Madison's eyes filled up.
"Oh god Jenna I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to mess anything up I swear, I'm leaving—"
She grabbed her stuff, glanced at Derek.
His eyes were ice.
"Happy? Making her leave in the middle of the night by herself. You're turning into your mom—paranoid about every little thing."
Something cracked inside my chest.
Thought I was past this. His words still cut right through.
He pushed past me, grabbed both bags, then bent down to scoop up Madison's shoes.
I swallowed hard.
"We're done."
He stopped at the door, turned around, and actually laughed.
"You think I'm gonna beg you to take that back?"
"That's really your play right now?"
